In 1942 Busan, Korean pastors and foreign residents (Russian Tatar family, English woman, Chinese consul) praise Imperial Japan as British POWs captured in Malaysia start arriving in the city
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 24, 1942
People on the ground asked about the captured prisoners of war landing on the peninsula
By Oyama (Korean surname: ‘In’) and Suyama, correspondents at Busan
Prisoners of war are coming, prisoners of war are coming! Prisoners of war who were captured in Malaysia have come to Korea in big ships. The British soldiers were once seen together in the midst of war, but on the 24th, [redacted] prisoners of war are to land in Busan, vividly showing the war achievements of the Imperial Military. Hearing the announcement of the Korean army, the 24 million people on the peninsula were filled with gratitude and excitement that they had been born in the Imperial Kingdom on this day and at this time. We would like to ask each of the 280,000 residents of Busan Prefecture, who are now looking at the crumbling remains of the British Empire with their own eyes, striving to complete the Greater East Asia War and learn wisdom from the follies of others, to give thanks for the announcement made today.
“Don’t be arrogant after victory”
Shin’ichi Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan
We have to win the war. The British prisoners of war who were defeated in the war also took up their swords for the sake of their country, but in the end they spared their own lives and exposed their own shame. The final decision and attitude of a person, not just a warrior, is important. I felt deeply that the saying in Hagakure’s Analects, “A warrior must find it in himself to die,” was true in all cases. It is only natural that they should be punished for their selfishness and injustice in East Asia before the war. No matter what kind of nation you are, you should never get carried away. Winning and not being arrogant about it is the essence of the Japanese spirit. Japan, as a victorious nation, must not make the same mistake that Britain, the home country of these prisoners of war, made. Photo: Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan
The Joy of Living in Japan
A pro-Japanese White Russian family
By correspondent Takahashi
Mr. Baigudin Gusman (45), who has lived in Japan for 21 years and now runs a clothing business in Okura-machi 3-chome, Busan, has a very pro-Japanese family. He is a Turkish Tatar with the same red blood of the Orient running through his veins as ours. Mr. Gusman praised the greatness of Japan as follows.
“I think it is a natural judgment of God that the U.S. and Britain, which did not realize Japan’s fundamental strength and underestimated its economic power, were defeated without a moment’s hesitation and came ashore as pitiful prisoners of war. We are observing the one month Muslim fast since the eleventh day of this month in order to express our gratitude for the happiness of living peacefully and without inconvenience as residents under the grateful patronage of Japan. During this period, we will pray to God for the completion of the Greater East Asia War. On the day the fast ends, we will donate the living expenses we have saved during this period to the National Defense Fund and offer a small token of our gratitude”. Photo: Mr. Gusman and his family
Mr. Bunkichi Sakata, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council
The destruction of the Anglo-Saxon race is a self-inflicted wound. In contrast to their misjudgment of Japan’s capabilities before the war, our country is well aware of the other side and is steadily making giant strides in building a new world order. We the gun-toting people must strengthen our determination to work together and be ready for tomorrow.
Comments by Reverend Minister Elder Yang
“In all my dealings with the British and the Americans over the past few decades, they have never expressed their own faults or regretted them. I think it is because of their greed and contempt for East Asians. That is why they pretend to be sheep on the surface, but when you look deeper, you see that they are always two sides of the same coin. Although they are people who believe in Jehovah God, they have been using the natural resources and man-made treasures given to them by God for the purpose of exploiting East Asia, hiding behind the name of religion. In the Bible, it is said that ‘God opposes the proud’. The fact that they were defeated by the righteous advance of the Imperial Army and are now prisoners of war who have arrived in Korea, I believe that God has taken away their blessings”.
Heaven’s Punishment
Comments by Elder Seo
“It is a great joy to be able to use the British and American prisoners of war from the Greater East Asia War for the construction of East Asia in Korea. Of course, they should be defeated if they extend the evil hand of aggression in the name of religion. That is the punishment that Heaven has sent down. I can remember when I was in church and they were preaching the way of God with their mouths, but their attitude was always one of contempt. I have no doubt that we, the people of East Asia, should strive for the construction of Greater East Asia with a Japanized Christianity”. (Photo: Elder Seo)
Now I know the sins of my ancestral country
Englishwoman Maria’s Story of Repentance
By correspondents Suyama and Aoki
Maria Yarmouth Debritt (21), also known as Keiko Suzuki, whose parents are both British, has been living in Japan for over 20 years and is now making her own living running a coffee shop in Busan, in order to live strongly in accordance with her strange fate. When it was announced that the prisoners of war would arrive in Korea on the 24th, she told her defeated ancestral country about her joy of living in Japan.
“I was born in Kobe and grew up in Japan, and I imagined my ancestral country as though it was an illusion to me. But now, with this reality in front of my own eyes, I know East Asia more clearly, and I have come to know Japan as a country with a strong sense of justice. The sins of my ancestral country over the past several hundred years have been thrown off the face of the earth, along with their mask hiding their aggression in East Asia. I am determined to live my whole life in Japan, offering my gratitude for this great unfolding history, in which a brighter world will be built together with Japan”. (Photo: Keiko speaking)
Very moved to contribute to this country
Consul Zhou of the Republic of China
“By welcoming the British prisoners of war, we can clearly understand how bravely our friends of the Japanese military fought for the construction of Greater East Asia. Witnessing the capture of the British prisoners of war has become a splendid teaching tool for those who have little awareness of war, teaching them that ‘the war is something that should be won’. All the peoples of East Asia must cooperate with each other as much as the heroes on the front lines, and push forward to complete the objectives of the war with all the strength of our alliance. I am pleased to have the honor of expressing my feelings today in the same spirit as the Japanese people, who are my friends”. (Photo: Mr. Zhou Jiren)
Industrialization of Logistics in the South Pacific
The peninsula is the best place
Remarks by Mr. Hoshihiyoshi Konishi on his visit to Seoul
Naval Captain Hoshihiyoshi Konishi (51), a former researcher at the Planning Institute and managing director of the South Pacific Economic Research Institute, a foundation famous for its research on the South Pacific, came to Seoul on the 21st as a member of the Colonial Management Committee.
He visited Governor Koiso, and held various discussions on the issue of corporatization of South Pacific resources on the peninsula. On the 23rd, he visited his nephew Ukita at his lodgings in 46 Kitayonekura-cho, and we asked him about his visit to Korea. (Photo: Mr. Konishi speaking)
“I have a deep connection with Korea. Around the time of the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, my father came to Korea to advocate for the spread of the Imperial Way, and his relatives have lived here since then. That’s why this place is very nostalgic for me. I had visited here when I was in the naval academy and last June, but this time I wanted to do a field survey on the economic partnership between the peninsula and the South Pacific.
First of all, I think that the goods that Korea needs from the South Pacific are wood, rubber and iron. In particular, Korea has made great progress in the rubber industry, which is ideal. We should bring both wood and iron and industrialize them on a large scale. Also, I think it is urgent to send more and more settlers from Korea to the South Pacific, especially to Mindanao and New Guinea”.
Reporting about the situation on the ground
Association President Hada
To the Imperial Cooperation Conference
How is the total power movement in Japan proper becoming more active? How should the general movement in Korea make great strides in the future? With such aspirations for the management of the Association in mind, Lieutenant General Hada left Seoul at 14:40 on the 23rd on the Akatsuki train accompanied by Mr. Akita, Chief of the General Affairs Division, to attend the Central Cooperation Conference of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and the Third Liaison Conference for the Imperial Supporters’ Movement for Japan and the Colonies to be held in Tokyo from the 26th to the 29th as a representative of Korea. Before his departure, the President said that he would bring back many gifts and that he had the following aspirations for his trip.
“The Central Cooperation Conference, which includes the principals of national schools and even the principals of girls’ schools, is truly a general meeting of the people. For this reason, Japan proper is a step ahead of Korea in terms of the total power movement reporting the situation on the ground to the higher-ups, and there is much to be heard.
Fortunately, I will be there as a representative of Korea, but I would like to listen to this conference from a Korea-centered standpoint, asking myself ‘How should I apply this?’ I am sure I will bring back many gifts. Representatives from Taiwan, the South Seas, Sakhalin Island, Kwantung Leased Territory, and other areas will gather at the liaison conference on October 1, and three representatives from Korea are scheduled to attend. The liaison conference has not yet reached the point where the various regions can come up with a comprehensive agenda and make it a movement at once”.
The president is scheduled to return to his post on October 5.
All the above photos have been censored and the articles have been approved by the Korean Army.
Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-24
(Transcription)
京城日報 昭和十七年九月二十四日
俘虜、半島に上陸を現地に聴く
【釜山にて大山（寅）須山両特派員発】
俘虜が来る、俘虜が来る、マレーの俘虜が大きな船で朝鮮にきた。一度は戦火の中に相見えた英兵ではあったが、皇軍の生々しい戦果を物語る俘虜〇〇〇〇が二十四日釜山に上陸するのだ。朝鮮軍の発表をきき、半島二千四百万は此の日此の時こそ皇国に生を享けた感謝と感激の深念にひたるのであった。崩潰してゆく大英帝国の敗残の姿を今此の眼で眺め、前車の覆えるをよき戒とし、大東亜戦完遂に邁進せんとする釜山府民二十八万の各層に今日発表せられた感謝を訊く。
”勝って驕るナ”
釜山府尹 山下真一
戦争には勝たねばならぬ。敗戦英国の俘虜も一応は祖国のために剣を執ったのであるが、最後の場合に身命を惜しんで生き恥を曝してしまった。武人に限らず人は最後の決心と態度が大切である。葉隠論語の”武士は死ぬこととみつけたり”ということは、いずれの場合においても真実であることをしみじみ感じた。戦前東亜をわがもの顔で歩き、不義非道を働いた彼等であると思うと当然な酬いを受けたとも思われる。如何なる国民と雖も決して思い上がってはいけない。勝って驕らざるは日本精神の真髄である。戦勝国日本はこれ等の俘虜の母国である英国のとったような轍を踏んではならないと深く府民と共に感ずる次第である。【写真＝山下釜山府尹】
日本に住む喜び
グ親日白系露人談
【高橋特派員発】
日本在住二十一年いまは釜山府大倉町三丁目で洋服商を営むバイグージン・グスマン氏（四五）は大の親日家庭だ。その血管には我等と同じ東洋の赤い血が脈々と流れるトルコタタールだ。そのグスマン氏は日本の偉大さを次の如く讃えるのであった。
日本の底力を悟らず経済力を軽視した米英が呆気なく敗退して哀れな俘虜の姿で上陸して来ることは当然な神のお裁きだと思います。私達在住者が不自由なく日本の有難い御庇護で安穏に生活し得る幸福を感謝するため、去る十一日から一か月間、モハメット教の断食を続けていますが、この期間中私達は大東亜戦争完遂を神に祈願し断食の終った日には、この間に節約し得た生活経費を国防献金して感謝の微衷を捧げたいと話し合っています。【写真＝グスマン氏一家】
慶南道会議員 坂田文吉氏談
アングロサクソン民族の滅亡は自業自得といわねばならない。彼等が戦前日本の実力を見ることを誤ったのに反し、わが日本がよく対局に刮眼し着々建設の巨歩を進めていることは世界新秩序既に成るの感が深いのである。われわれ銃後国民は一致協力不退転の決意をいよいよ強固にし、明日への備えを固めなければならない。
長老 粱聖奉氏談
過去数十年間に亘って英米人と交って来たが、彼等は自己の過失を絶対に表明せず、それを悔いようとせぬ。それは東洋人に対する侮蔑と貪欲からだと思う。それだけに表面羊の如く装うが、一歩踏み込んでみると何時も表裏不同である。彼等はエホバの神を信ずる国民であるに拘わらず、神より与えられた天然資源並びに人為的財宝をもって東洋搾取のために侵略政策を宗教の美名に隠れて敢行して来たのである。聖書に「高慢なる者は退けよ」といわれた。皇軍の正義進撃に連敗し、今や俘虜の身となって来鮮したことは、神が彼等から祝福を取り上げたものと思う。
天の刑罰
徐長老の談
大東亜戦争の戦果たる英米人の俘虜を朝鮮で東亜建設に使役することは何より嬉しいことです。宗教の名の下に侵略の魔の手を伸ばす彼等は当然敗れるべきだ。それは天が下した刑罰です。今に思い当るが、教会で口に神の道を説きながら、その態度たるや何時も侮蔑そのものであった。我等東洋人は日本化されたキリスト教によって大東亜建設に邁進すべきだと信じて疑いません。【写真＝徐長老】
今ぞ知る祖国の罪
英人マリヤさんの悔悟談
【須山、青木両特派員】
父母を英国人にもつマリヤ・ヤルモデブリートこお鈴木圭子さん（二一）は奇しき運命に強く生きるべく在日二十年の生活を経て、今は釜山府内の某喫茶店に自活の途を辿っている。二十四日朝鮮に俘虜来るとの発表の報に彼女は日本に生きる喜びを敗戦祖国に告げるのであった。
神戸で生れ日本で育った私には祖国の姿が一つの幻想でもあったのですが、今この現実の眼の前にして私ははっきりと東亜を知り、正義に強い日本を知り得ました。祖国がなした過去数百年来の罪は東亜侵略の仮面と共に地球の外になげ出され、明るい世界が日本と共に建設されてゆくこの大歴史に感謝を捧げ、一生を日本に生きる決心です。【写真＝語る圭子さん】
親邦へ献ぐ感激
周中華民国領事談
英兵俘虜を迎えて友邦日本軍が大東亜建設のため如何に勇敢に戦い抜いたかがはっきり理解されます。この俘虜を目撃して戦争に対する認識の乏しい人々に「戦争は勝つべきものだ」ということを教える立派な教材にもなり、全東亜民族が前線勇士に劣らぬ協力の下に盟邦の総力を挙げて戦争目的完遂に邁進せぬばなりません。自分は中旦如親邦日本国民と同じ心持で今日の感激を表明し得る光栄を喜ぶものであります。【写真＝周済人氏】
南方物資の工業化
半島こそ最適地
小西干比吉氏来城の弁
前企画院調査官で南洋通りとして著名な財団法人、南洋経済研究所、常務理事、海軍大佐小西干比吉（五一）は今回拓務省委員として二十一日来城。
小磯総督を訪れ、南方資源の半島での企業化問題について種々懇談を遂げたが、二十三日宿舎北米倉町四六の令甥右喜太氏方に訪れ来鮮の弁を訊いてみた。【写真＝語る小西氏】
私は朝鮮とは深い因縁がある。明治二十七年ごろ日清戦争当時、父は皇道普及を提唱して来鮮したことがあり、その後身内もこちらに在住している。そんなわけで非常に懐かしい土地だ。それに海軍兵学校時代と去年六月に訪れたわけだが、今回は半島と南方の経済的提携に就いて現地調査をしたいと思い来たわけだ。
まず朝鮮へ南方から求める物資は木材とゴム、鉄等であると思う。殊に朝鮮はゴム工業では長足の進歩をしていることはうってつけだ。木材も鉄も持って来て大規模な工業化することにならう。それから朝鮮から今後どしどし南方、特にミンダナオ島やニューギニヤ地方に開拓民を送ることが急務だと思う。
下情上通を聞きに
波田聯盟総長
翼賛協力会議へ
内地の総力運動はどのように挺身しつつあるか。朝鮮の総力運動は今後どのように躍進するべきか、と聯盟運営の新抱負を胸に秘めて総長波田中将は来る二十六日から二十九日まで東京に開かれる大政翼賛会中央協力会議及び第三回内外地翼賛運動連絡会議に朝鮮代表として出席するため、飽田庶務課長を帯同二十三日十四時四十分京城発”あかつき”で東上することとなった。出発前に総長は沢山土産を持って帰るぞと東上の抱負を次のごとく語った。
”中央協力会議は国民学校の校長や女学校の校長までを網羅して真に国民総常会の観がある。それだけに総力運動としての下情上通には朝鮮よりも一歩前進したものがあり、聴くべきものも多いだろう。
幸いに私は朝鮮代表として臨席するが””如何に参考すべきか”という朝鮮の主体的地位からこれを聴きたいと思っている。きっと沢山な土産が持って帰れるだろう。十月一日に開かれる内外地連絡会議には台湾、南洋、樺太、関東州、その他の代表が集るが、朝鮮からは三名出席の予定だ。連絡会議はまだ各地が綜合的議題を出して一斉にこれを運動化するというころまでは行っていない。
なお総長は十月五日帰任の予定。
【以上何れも写真は釜要検閲済、記事ー朝鮮軍許可済】
